US Government Agencies and Programs

Federal and State agencies are major partners in many ecosystem management efforts. Many of the specific ecosystem-based programs are listed in the Ecosystem Management Programs and Research links.

Bureau of Land Management: Understanding Ecosystem Management - Introduction to EM from the November/December 1994 issue of Science and Children from BLM's environmental education homepage.

Ecosystem Management in California - Background on California's local and regional initiatives to ensure sustainable ecosystems.

Environmental Protection Agency:

Community Action for a Renewed Environment - A competitive grant program that offers communities an innovative way to address the risks from multiple sources of toxic pollution in their environment.

National Estuary Program - A program established in 1987 to protect nationally significant estuaries of the United States, focusing on maintaining the integrity of the whole system.

Surf Your Watershed - Provides watershed-based environmental information.

Illinois' Conservation 2000 Program - A six-year, $100 million initiative that funds nine programs across three state natural resource agencies, focusing on protecting and managing Illinois' natural resources; includes the Ecosystems Program.

Michigan Sea Grant College Program - The Michigan Sea Grant College Program is one of 30 programs established across the nation to promote the understanding and intelligent use of the Great Lakes and oceans. Originally established in 1969 at the University of Michigan, MI Sea Grant became a partnership with Michigan State University in 1972 and receives funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

US Fish & Wildlife Service: Ecosystem Conservation - Statement of USFWS's ecosystem approach to conservation. Includes a map of the 53 ecosystem units it uses as ecosystem boundaries.

US Forest Service: Committee of Scientists - The Committee was tasked to recommend ways the Forest Service could better manage its forests and grasslands. The Final Report was issued in March, 1999.

US Geological Service: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center - The Center focuses on developing research information on the quantitative ecological requirements for sustainable wildlife populations in North Dakota and disseminate its technical information and research findings.